Aṅguttara Nikāya
VIII. Aṭṭhaka Nipāta
III: Gahapati-Vagga
Sutta 28
Khīṇ'āsava Bala Suttaɱ
Strengths
Translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu.
Proofed against and modified in accordance with the revised edition at dhammatalks.org
Provenance, terms and conditons
[1][pts][olds][bodh] Then Ven. Sāriputta went to the Blessed One and, on arrival, bowed down to him and sat to one side.
As he was sitting there, the Blessed One said to him:
"Sāriputta, how many are the strengths of a monk whose effluents are ended,
endowed with which he affirms the ending of the effluents (thus):
'The effluents are ended in me'?"
§
"Eight, lord, are the strengths of a monk whose effluents are ended,
endowed with which he affirms the ending of the effluents (thus):
'The effluents are ended in me.'
Which eight?
"There is the case where the inconstancy of all fabrications as they have come to be is well seen with right discernment by a monk whose effluents are ended.
The fact that the inconstancy of all fabrications as they have come to be is well seen with right discernment by a monk whose effluents are ended is a strength of a monk whose effluents are ended,
with reference to which he affirms the ending of the effluents (thus):
'The effluents are ended in me.'
"And further, sensual passions as they have come to be are well seen with right discernment as analogous to hot charcoals by a monk whose effluents are ended.
The fact that sensual passions as they have come to be are well seen with right discernment as analogous to hot charcoals by a monk whose effluents are ended is also a strength of a monk whose effluents are ended,
with reference to which he affirms the ending of the effluents (thus):
'The effluents are ended in me.'
"And further, the mind of a monk whose effluents are ended
inclines toward seclusion,
leans toward seclusion,
tends toward seclusion,
stays in seclusion,
delights in renunciation,
entirely rid of the qualities that act as a basis for the effluents.
The fact that the mind of a monk whose effluents are ended
inclines toward seclusion,
leans toward seclusion,
tends toward seclusion,
stays in seclusion,
delights in renunciation,
entirely rid of the qualities that act as a basis for the effluents is also is a strength of a monk whose effluents are ended,
with reference to which he affirms the ending of the effluents (thus):
'The effluents are ended in me.'
■
"And further, the four establishings of mindfulness[1] are developed,
well-developed by a monk whose effluents are ended.
The fact that the four establishings of mindfulness are developed,
well-developed by a monk whose effluents are ended is also is a strength of a monk whose effluents are ended,
with reference to which he affirms the ending of the effluents (thus):
'The effluents are ended in me.'
■
"And further, the four bases of power are developed,
well-developed by a monk whose effluents are ended...
■
"And further, the five faculties are developed,
well-developed by a monk whose effluents are ended...
■
"And further, the seven factors for Awakening are developed,
well-developed by a monk whose effluents are ended...
■
"And further, the noble eightfold path is developed,
well-developed by a monk whose effluents are ended.
The fact that the noble eightfold path is developed,
well-developed by a monk whose effluents are ended
is also is a strength of a monk whose effluents are ended,
with reference to which he affirms the ending of the effluents (thus):
'The effluents are ended in me.'
"These, lord, are the eight strengths of a monk whose effluents are ended,
endowed with which he affirms the ending of the effluents (thus):
'The effluents are ended in me.'"
Another explanation is that the Indriyani are impersonal forces where the balani are those forces as used by an individual (i.e., 'powers'). Consequently the balani are no longer applicable to the situation of the arahant because though the arahant does continue to experience forces he no longer has any use for them.
— p.p.
[1] This and the remaining strengths constitute six of the seven lists of qualities that make up the Wings to Awakening. The one missing list is the five strengths. There may be two reasons for why it is not listed here. The first, suggested by AN 4.163, is that the five strengths pertain to the lower levels of noble attainment — stream-entry through non-returning — whereas the five faculties, which cover the same qualities as the five strengths (conviction, persistence, mindfulness, concentration, and discernment), constitute a higher intensity of these qualities pertaining exclusively to arahantship. The second possible reason is that listing the five strengths as one of eight strengths would have been confusing.
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